CHICAGO, IL - July 16, 2024 - WithMe, Inc., a leader in technology-enabled amenities for multifamily communities, celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month. Founded in 2014 by CEO Jonathan Treble in his Chicago apartment, WithMe has grown exponentially over the past decade.
Today, WithMe employs more than 70 professionals across five countries. The company’s innovative PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions can be found in thousands of multifamily communities nationwide, serving more than 2 million people.
"When I started WithMe 10 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the magnitude of impact our amenities would have on the multifamily industry," said Jonathan Treble, founder and CEO of WithMe. "What began as PrintWithMe, a convenient printing solution, has evolved into a suite of modern, tech-enabled amenities that redefines how multifamily professionals meet the amenity needs of today's residents. I am extremely proud of our team and thankful for loyal clients who had the courage to test our solutions and then saw the value in expanding to most of their portfolios.”
WithMe's journey began with the launch of PrintWithMe, a pay-per-use, wireless printer station targeting cafes and public spaces. Shortly after launch, Treble discovered his self-serve printing concept had the potential to solve significant problems facing the multifamily industry.
In response to feedback from property managers, Treble and team developed proprietary Print Allowance technology to address amenity misuse and uncontrollable consumption. Print Allowance gives property managers the ability to limit the number of free pages each resident can print and automatically charge them for any overage.
Inspired by the striking similarities in the challenges posed by offering printing and coffee services in residential spaces, WithMe found a way to adapt their Print Allowance technology to coffee machines. In early 2022, SipWithMe was launched; it is a revolutionary coffee amenity that offers more than 20 roast-to-order, barista-quality beverages made with craft-roasted coffee and dispensed by reliable, easy-to-use devices.
Similar to PrintWithMe’s Print Allowance technology, SipWithMe’s Cup Allowance technology allows property managers to control how much coffee each resident drinks. Flexible packages offer options ranging from a few cups a month to unlimited usage.
PrintWithMe and SipWithMe have been widely praised by both residents and property managers and are trusted by 80% of the 2024 NMHC Top 50 Managers.
“SipWithMe is a multifamily manager's dream coffee amenity. They have nailed what property managers care about: quality coffee drinks, rapid servicing to reduce site team headaches, and options to implement the service with a fixed monthly fee,” shared a Senior Regional Manager at Willow Bridge Property Company.
PrintWithMe is equally valued, with a manager from Bozzuto sharing, “PrintWithMe is, hands-down, the best solution for resident printing in multifamily. Their unique 'Print Allowance' system helps control costs and aligns with our sustainability goals.”
To learn how you can bring WithMe amenities to your community, contact WithMe.
About WithMe, Inc.
WithMe, Inc. makes lives better every day through convenient, technology-powered amenities for the multifamily industry and beyond. WithMe’s PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions make resident printing and coffee simple, helping property management leaders deliver an elevated living while decreasing spend, controlling costs, and saving time for staff. PrintWithMe powers printer amenities and staff solutions at thousands of multifamily, cafe and coworking locations across all 50 states. SipWithMe, now available in major markets, is disrupting the coffee amenity category. WithMe is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, appearing on the list for the past three consecutive years, as well as a 2023 Inc. Power Partner and a 2024 NAA Top Employer.
This e-book, inspired by a webinar hosted by WithMe, includes valuable insight and effective strategies for becoming a master of amenity matchmaking:
Get ready to discover how amenities can help you create a community that not only creates ”love at first sight” moments for prospects, but captures the hearts of residents once they move in.
Jonathan Treble, founder and CEO of WithMe, Inc., had trouble printing concert tickets years ago, a frustration that led him to start a new company that evolved into tech-enabled services for apartment buildings — and maybe even a competitive edge for apartments taking advantage of the services. Who knew coffee and printing services could become a significant play? And more services are apparently on deck.
Chicago, IL – May 21, 2024 – WithMe, Inc., a leader in technology-enabled amenities for multifamily communities, including PrintWithMe and SipWithMe, has been named a top supplier company employer in the National Apartment Association's (NAA) 2024 Top Employers Awards.
The awards recognize member organizations that succeed in creating environments focused on collaboration, innovation, and hard work. Nominees are ranked based on a rigorous evaluation process, including an employee satisfaction survey based on Net Promoter Scores (NPS).
“Our team is WithMe’s greatest asset, and being named a top employer in NAA’s prestigious program is a testament to our commitment to fostering a supportive and empowering workplace,” said Jonathan Treble, Founder and CEO. “This recognition motivates us to continue investing in our employees' growth, happiness, and overall well-being.”
WithMe is a remote-first company with over 70 employees around the globe. In the past two years, the team has grown by over 60%. WithMe employees are dedicated to supporting the company’s innovative coffee and printing amenities, which serve more than 1 million apartment homes in over 4,000 multifamily properties. To learn more about the WithMe team and explore career opportunities, visit withme.com/careers.
About NAA
The National Apartment Association (NAA) serves as the leading voice and preeminent resource through advocacy, education and collaboration on behalf of the rental housing industry. As a federation of 141 state, local and global affiliates, NAA encompasses over 96,000 members representing more than 12 million apartment homes globally. NAA believes that rental housing is a valuable partner in every community that emphasizes integrity, accountability, collaboration, community responsibility, inclusivity and innovation.
To learn more, visit www.naahq.org.
About WithMe, Inc.
WithMe, Inc. makes people’s lives better every day through convenient, technology-powered amenities for the multifamily industry and beyond. WithMe’s PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions make resident printing and coffee simple, helping property management leaders deliver an elevated living experience and meet evolving resident needs for remote/hybrid workspaces while simultaneously decreasing spend, controlling costs, and saving time for staff. PrintWithMe powers printer amenities and staff solutions at thousands of multifamily, cafe and coworking locations across all 50 states. SipWithMe, now available in major markets, is disrupting the coffee amenity category. WithMe is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, appearing on the list for the past three consecutive years, as well as a 2023 Inc. Power Partner.
Learn more at www.withme.com.
At the close of each quarter, the entire WithMe team comes together to reflect on the challenges and celebrate the triumphs of the prior three months.
Company and department performance is carefully reviewed and analyzed, laying the groundwork for the goals and areas of focus that will not only guide the quarter that lies ahead, but the remainder of the year.
As a remote-first company, WithMe’s quarterly meeting also provides a valuable opportunity for the full team to interact and recommit to WithMe’s values, which are central to everything we do.
Here are five of our most significant achievements from the first quarter of 2024:
1. We grew our team by nearly 20%.
In response to burgeoning demand for our amenities, we added new talent across sales, operations and human resources.
This continued investment in our team reinforces our commitment to delivering unparalleled service while fostering a culture of innovation and inclusivity.
Each new team member brings fresh perspective and expertise, enriching our collective capabilities and propelling us forward on our mission to transform multifamily amenities.
Our team is constantly growing and evolving, and we are always searching for new rockstars who can help us further our mission to make lives better every day. Open opportunities can be found on our careers page.
2. Our PrintWithMe and SipWithMe partner NPS scores remained World Class and Excellent at 79 and 59, respectively.
As one of our core values, customer obsession lies at the heart of everything we do. We routinely survey our clients to not only gather candid feedback about their experience with our amenity solutions, but to gain perspective on the multifamily industry at large.
Achieving World Class and Excellent ratings from our partners reaffirms our commitment to providing exceptional experiences, driving us to constantly raise the bar in everything we do.
By prioritizing feedback and staying attuned to partner needs, we ensure that every interaction with our amenities is marked by reliability, efficiency and value.
3. We forged new connections, strengthened existing relationships and gained important perspective on the industry by participating in 23 prominent multifamily conferences and events.
Trade shows, networking events and education sessions serve as dynamic platforms where property management leaders converge to learn, share ideas and cultivate relationships.
For us, these events aren't just about exhibiting our products—they're about listening to our clients, understanding their needs, and collaborating on solutions that elevate their experiences.
Events are also about being at the forefront of discussions surrounding community living. At every event, we gain valuable insights into emerging trends, regulatory changes and evolving consumer preferences, allowing us to adapt and innovate accordingly.
Perhaps most importantly, our presence at trade shows and involvement with apartment associations supports our commitment to building meaningful connections with our partners and industry peers. It's about being part of a larger community—a community driven by a shared passion for enhancing the everyday experiences of residents and on-site teams.
The next time you see us at a trade show or hear about our involvement with an apartment association, know that it's not just about coffee and printers—it's about shaping the future of communal spaces, one connection at a time.
To see a list of upcoming events where you can meet with the WithMe team, visit our events page.
4. We published the inaugural edition of “Partner Perks,” our quarterly client communication, and hosted the first-ever “Partner Power Hour,” a quarterly town hall webinar organized by our client success team.
The rollout of both of these initiatives marked a significant milestone in our journey to enhance our services and increase engagement with our partners.
“Partner Perks” will not only relay important product news and updates, it will also feature seasonal templates designed to help drive usage and maximize ROI.
The “Partner Power Hour” will provide a forum for open dialogue, enabling us to deepen relationships and align our strategies with client needs and expectations.
By finding new and innovative ways to foster a culture of transparency and collaboration, we empower our clients to maximize the value of our offerings and drive mutual success.
5. SipWIthMe users enjoyed nearly 300,000 barista-quality beverages, which equates to five tons of coffee beans!
Beyond mere numbers, this achievement symbolizes the role we play in brightening daily routines and fueling moments of productivity and joy. Whether powering through a morning meeting or enjoying a midday pick-me-up, each cup represents a moment of connection and rejuvenation, underscoring our commitment to enhancing multifamily living experiences one sip at a time.
If you’re interested in bringing SipWithMe to your community, complete our online form, and we’ll reach out to you with more information.
As we celebrate these accomplishments, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering unparalleled value to our partners. With the foundation laid in Q1, we look forward to an outstanding year ahead.
Stay tuned for more updates and insights as we continue to innovate and inspire in the months to come!
Innovative multifamily amenity company hires operations leader to bolster and streamline growth
CHICAGO, IL - April 3, 2024 - WithMe, Inc., a leader in technology-enabled amenities for multifamily communities, including PrintWithMe and SipWithMe, has appointed Jeff Lail as Chief Operations Officer. With a two-decade career in the consumer services industry, Lail brings a proven track record of operational excellence to WithMe.
"Joining WithMe is a unique opportunity to apply my skills toward enhancing the company’s operations and work with the most talented leadership team I've ever encountered," said Lail. "The company's dedication to quality and innovative approach to technology set it apart, and I am committed to expanding our footprint while upholding our promise to deliver top-notch services."
Jeff has spent most of his career with Coinstar, where he was instrumental in scaling the North American Service Network to over 18,000 locations and built operational structures for multiple lines of business, new products, and international expansion. He also has extensive experience in capital expense management, cash flow, vendor management, global customer service, and global supply chain.
“Jeff's appointment as Chief Operations Officer marks the beginning of yet another chapter of scaling for WithMe, Inc.,” said Jonathan Treble, Founder and CEO. “With his unparalleled expertise in running kiosk operations at scale, Jeff will drive more efficiencies, maintain and build upon our service excellence, and enable us to launch new geographic markets. With Jeff at the helm of operations, we will continue to set the standard for tech-enabled amenities in multifamily living spaces."
About WithMe, Inc.
WithMe, Inc. makes people’s lives better every day through convenient, technology-powered amenities for the multifamily industry and beyond. WithMe’s PrintWithMe and SipWithMe solutions make resident printing and coffee simple, helping property management leaders deliver an elevated living experience and meet evolving resident needs for remote/hybrid workspaces while simultaneously decreasing spend, controlling costs, and saving time for staff. PrintWithMe powers printer amenities and staff solutions at thousands of multifamily, cafe and coworking locations across the United States. SipWithMe, now available in major markets, is disrupting the coffee amenity category. WithMe is an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company, appearing on the list for the past three consecutive years, as well as a 2023 Inc. Power Partner.
Learn more at www.withme.com.
There are numerous business advantages to vertical integration in multifamily, like increased control over the supply chain, improved efficiency and enhanced customer experience.
However, it also poses unexpected challenges, like preserving company culture. As companies expand vertically, and their workforce becomes dispersed across various locations, maintaining a unified and cohesive culture becomes a nuanced task.
Consider the following questions:
In a recent episode of the "Multifamily Excellence" podcast, WithMe Founder and CEO Jonathan Treble interviews Matt Fiascone, president of The Habitat Company, digging into the intricacies of preserving culture in vertically integrated companies.
Habitat, based in Chicago, is a full-service real estate company managing a diverse portfolio of property types, from affordable housing communities to luxury high-rise towers. With over 16,000 units, they operate across the United States.
As a vertically integrated company, Habitat employs over 700 people. Roughly 90 of them are corporate employees, primarily based in the Chicago office, with a few in the regional office in Detroit. The vast majority, approximately 90% of the company, is situated in the field, across various sites.
So, how do you preserve a unified culture across such diverse work environments?
Defining Vertical Integration in Multifamily
Before we delve into the intricacies of preserving culture, let's define vertical integration in the context of real estate. Vertical integration refers to the ownership and operation of various stages of the real estate investment and development process within a single company.
This includes activities such as property management, development, construction and investment. By controlling multiple aspects of the real estate process, vertically integrated companies aim to streamline operations, reduce costs and enhance overall efficiency.
Strategies for Cultivating Unity
Both Matt and Jonathan emphasize the significance of intentional effort in building and sustaining a cohesive culture. While challenges may arise in preserving culture across diverse habitats, strategic solutions can foster unity. Let’s delve into these strategies.
Advice #1: Overcoming Physical Barriers
Maintaining cultural aspects in field environments, where digital interactions may not always be feasible, poses a unique challenge. Acknowledging these limitations is the first step toward innovative solutions that bridge the cultural gap.
While certain cultural traditions may seem impractical in the field, this challenge presents an opportunity for innovation. Explore alternative ways to celebrate holidays, incorporate dress codes or address hot-button cultural issues. By adapting traditions to suit the unique dynamics of field environments, a more inclusive and unified culture can be fostered.
Advice #2: Seamless Communication Channels
Establishing effective communication channels between corporate and field teams is crucial for maintaining cultural alignment. Implement platforms and tools that facilitate transparent and frequent communication, allowing both sides to stay connected and informed about company values, updates and initiatives.
Advice #3: Inclusive Decision-Making Processes
Foster a sense of belonging by involving field teams in decision-making processes. Solicit their input on matters that impact them directly, creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone feels their voice is heard and valued.
Concluding Thoughts
In vertically integrated multifamily companies, preserving culture is both a challenge and an opportunity. By acknowledging the nuances of diverse work environments and implementing strategic solutions, organizations can foster unity and success.
Want to learn more about preserving culture in vertically integrated companies? Listen to the full episode of Multifamily Excellence on your preferred platform. Don't forget to leave a review and subscribe to stay updated on future episodes!
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In the latest episode of the "Multifamily Excellence" podcast, WithMe Founder and CEO Jonathan Treble interviews Girish Gehani, the COO of Trilogy Real Estate Group.
Trilogy Real Estate Group is a vertically integrated multifamily powerhouse, boasting a remarkable $4.5 billion in transaction volume across 14 thriving U.S. markets.
During the interview, Jonathan and Girish dive into an array of industry topics, including the game-changing strategies that have propelled Trilogy to success.
One of the most interesting insights Girish shares is the invaluable role supplier relationships can play in learning about and understanding key trends in multifamily.
He notes, "I've probably learned more from our third-party supplier partner relationships than I have from people who are sitting on my side of the table."
But why are these relationships so invaluable for property managers?
Girish explains that suppliers like WithMe engage with a multitude of clients, resulting in a unique and well-rounded vantage point of the industry. Supplier relationships have the ability to extend far beyond transactions, offering owner-operators a frontline view into market demands, operational intricacies, resident preferences and potential areas of innovation.
Girish emphasizes, “I spend a lot of my time creating those relationships in a true and authentic way, and it's been invaluable.”
This sentiment rings true for the team at WithMe. As a supplier, we are often boots on the ground, meeting with property managers all across the U.S. To deliver superior products and services, we closely monitor the operational challenges our clients face. As a result, we accumulate many data points that offer valuable insight into various parts of the industry.
Over the last year, here are three of the significant trends we’ve observed:
Labor Shortages and Overburdened Teams
Property management firms have been struggling with labor shortages for quite some time now, particularly when it comes to on-site roles, such as maintenance and leasing.
It’s undeniably a complex issue. Operational bottlenecks often stem from understaffed teams, causing delays in addressing resident needs and maintenance issues. This not only impacts the efficiency of operations and quality of service, but it also places an ever-increasing burden on existing staff members, leading to potential burnout.
To combat these issues, the industry has been turning to automation and AI.
Focus on Cost Control
With interest rates and insurance premiums continuously on the rise, property managers are under immense pressure to control costs. The challenge has been finding ways to reduce expenses without compromising service quality.
Seeking vendors and suppliers offering all-inclusive, flat-rate packages can help maintain fixed and predictable costs in an unstable environment. This especially rings true for amenities like coffee and printing, where wildly unpredictable and staggeringly high costs have become the norm.
Pilot Fatigue
The rapid rollout of new technologies in recent years has led to an unforeseen challenge—pilot fatigue.
In times like these, it’s important that property managers exercise a high level of discernment regarding the technologies they adopt. This involves developing a clear evaluation framework, particularly assessing the compatibility of new technologies with existing systems, evaluating their scalability, and ensuring comprehensive training and support for effective staff adoption.
Want to delve deeper into Jonathan and Girish's conversation? Listen to the full podcast episode on your favorite platform. If you like what you hear, be sure to leave a review and hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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Happy National Entrepreneurs’ Day!
The United States is renowned as the most entrepreneurial country in the world, but it wasn’t until 2010 that there was a day set aside to celebrate the achievements of its dreamers and innovators.
National Entrepreneurship Week was first observed November 14-20, 2010, with November 19 earmarked as National Entrepreneurs’ Day. The holiday is the handiwork of David Hauser and Siamak Taghaddos, two entrepreneurs who lobbied for a nationally recognized celebration of the trailblazing men and women who built something from nothing, created jobs, and made America what it is today.
As the years have passed, the celebration has evolved and grown. On October 31, 2023, the President declared November 2023 as National Entrepreneurship Month and November 21, 2023 as National Entrepreneurs' Day.
WithMe is proud to celebrate this holiday, and it only seems fitting that we mark the occasion by highlighting the achievements of our visionary CEO, Jonathan Treble, and the entrepreneurial endeavor that brought WithMe to life.
Seizing an Opportunity
It was a blustery day in Chicago, with 10 inches of snow covering the ground, when Jonathan Treble needed to print concert tickets. To add insult to injury, it was the weekend. It took two hours, thirty dollars and one soul-crushing visit to Kinko's to get the job done.
The year was 2014. PrintWithMe didn’t exist, and mobile ticketing was far from the norm. Concertgoers everywhere were dealing with the same dilemma every day. Where other fans saw major inconvenience, Treble saw incredible opportunity. He set out on a one-man mission to make printing convenient for everyone, everywhere.
“After experiencing the printing problem a couple of times, I had a ‘lightbulb moment’ and realized that a network of pay-per-use printer stations would not only be feasible from a technology perspective, but also viable from a business perspective,” says Treble.
So, later that year, in July 2014, Treble bought a printer at Staples and coded a checkout system with the help of some friends. The rest, as they say, is history. What resulted was PrintWithMe, a self-serve, wireless printer station that allows users to print documents via email from any digital device.
Building a Customer Base
Two short weeks after crafting the PrintWithMe prototype, Treble found his inaugural champion in Eva’s Café, a cozy eatery situated near his apartment in Chicago’s Old Town neighborhood. Opting for a highly personal sales strategy, he boldly approached a shift leader (who also happened to be Eva’s nephew) about the possibility of placing a PrintWithMe kiosk in the café. Much to Treble’s surprise, his proposition was met with few objections, and the restaurant almost immediately agreed to partner with him. Their PrintWithMe device went live on August 1, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by Eva.
That initial interaction left Treble optimistic he could earn the trust of other Chicago café owners using the same direct and highly personal approach.
Inevitably, the enthusiasm of local business owners proved to be overwhelming. However, as with much new-to-market technology, consumer early adoption of the self-service, wireless printer stations was limited.
“I had to make some inferences that there was enough demand for the business model to work at scale,” explains Treble. “It wasn’t until about two years in that I saw a more robust level of demand and revenue from our first batch of apartment building customers.”
Innovating
As Treble began to work more closely with multifamily properties, he noticed a trend in property managers referencing printer amenity misuse and uncontrollable consumption. To address the issue, PrintWithMe developed proprietary Print Allowance technology that gives property managers the ability to set a limit on the number of free pages per resident, actively track usage and automatically charge residents when their allocations are exceeded.
In the words of Treble, the development and implementation of this technology was “one critical feature change that helped us not only survive, but thrive, as a company.”
Developing a robust client base in the multifamily space also brought about innovative additions to the PrintWithMe product mix. At the recommendation of Bob Flannery, one of PrintWithMe’s multifamily property executives, Treble began to explore the possibility of expanding the company’s services.
“Bob said the outsourced business model we had pioneered for printing services, where we completely managed and maintained the amenity, as well as developed custom software to suit the apartment building context, would perfectly fit coffee service as well.”
Upon further investigation, Treble identified striking parallels between mobile coffee and printing amenities in residential spaces. “They both involve hardware, a consumable supply of goods that need to be managed and a tendency for ‘abuse’ by select residents.” Thus, SipWithMe was developed, and the parent company, WithMe, Inc., was formed.
SipWithMe elevates the resident experience through reliable, easy-to-use technology, barista-quality beverages, and locally sourced coffee - all while helping properties decrease their spend, control costs and save time. The service incorporates the same groundbreaking allowance technology first introduced through PrintWithMe, giving owners and operators full control over resident usage.
SipWithMe was met with overwhelming response, and it is currently disrupting multifamily coffee in major markets all across the United States.
Building a Team
Visit the WithMe website or any of its social accounts, and you will quickly discover that culture is of the utmost importance. However, building that culture was a lengthy process. Determined to personally confirm his theory that PrintWithMe was best suited for a direct sales approach, Treble spent more than two years tirelessly canvassing Chicago on his own, often logging more than 80 hours of work per week.
Throughout the first four years of PrintWithMe, Treble built a small team of contractors and team members, but they all, admittedly, had a “work first” mentality, not unusual for a startup. Unfortunately, that mindset left little time or room for prioritizing culture. It wasn’t until years 4-6, when the team grew to 10, that Treble “started realizing that creating a genuinely positive culture would result in a competitive advantage and long-term benefits to the business.”
While eloquent words about culture may look impressive on a computer screen, the true indicator of culture lies in employee retention and satisfaction. According to Treble, “We truly live out the values we post on our website. We don’t just pay lip service to them. I have also found that newer employees (those who joined in the last 1-2 years) have self-selected to apply to WithMe because of our clearly stated values. They are, therefore, more likely to stay with us, which is a virtuous cycle.”
WithMe monitors Employee NPS twice per year, and satisfaction is consistently strong. Despite WithMe’s hypergrowth and the rise of negative employment movements like “The Great Resignation,” the company has also enjoyed relatively stable retention.
Learning and Growing
For those with entrepreneurial aspirations, Treble’s greatest advice is to voraciously consume literature. He believes in taking the time to identify subject areas that are a source of weakness or challenge – and then reading books at every comprehension level to gain a well-rounded understanding of each subject.
As Treble says, “Entrepreneurship is like an extreme sport. You need to rapidly learn new things merely to survive in an unforgiving environment.”
In addition to educating himself through books, Treble has also found podcasts to be crucial to his success. He cites The Marketing Book and Recruit Rockstars as two of the most influential in building WithMe.
Finally, Treble stresses the importance of finding steadfast mentors to help navigate the taxing and complex world of entrepreneurship. He counts Orazio Buzza at Fooda and Tim Thornton at PayPal as two of his greatest mentors.
As evidenced by Treble’s path to not only launch WithMe, but to continue to deliver new tech-powered convenience, entrepreneurship is a journey, not a destination. It requires continual self-evaluation, self-reliance, self-discipline and self-confidence.
Interested in learning more about Jonathan’s entrepreneurial journey? Connect with him on LinkedIn, where he regularly shares entrepreneurial insights and musings, and be sure to subscribe to his podcast, Multifamily Excellence, where he leads candid conversations with mutlifamily’s top minds.
At WithMe, we firmly believe a company is only as strong as its team.
In the inaugural episode of the "Multifamily Excellence" podcast, WithMe Founder and CEO Jonathan Treble interviews David Danish, SVP at LivCor, to uncover valuable insights on building high-performing and fully engaged teams.
Let's face it – employee turnover in multifamily is particularly high. Property managers, leasing agents and maintenance teams often face burnout and undervaluation, contributing to industry-wide labor concerns.
David's insights offer a roadmap to not only retain but also empower your team. Inspired by his philosophies, we've distilled four strategies for creating teams that endure the labor challenges of the multifamily industry and contribute to the long-term success and growth of your organization.
Onboarding: A Strategic Investment
Focus on creating a robust onboarding experience. Ensure new team members are exposed to the right individuals, relationships and skills needed for success. Initially, a detailed onboarding process is needed to ensure that individuals have the necessary tools and connections to do their job. Over time, acknowledge that the proximity to individuals' work during onboarding needs to wane for the team to grow and become scalable. Onboarding is a strategic investment in the long-term team and organizational success.
Empowerment and Trust
Hire individuals smarter than you. Treat team members as colleagues with different responsibilities, fostering a non-hierarchical atmosphere that respects ideas and empowers decision-making. Ask questions and encourage open dialogue to create a collaborative and inclusive environment.
Care-First Culture
Prioritize the well-being of team members by considering their personal lives and respecting their work-life balance. Show care through simple gestures like understanding meal breaks or accommodating different time zones.
Plus-Two Hire Philosophy for Scalability
Embrace the "plus-two hire" concept. Select team members who not only excel in their current roles, but also have the potential for two additional promotions. Assess every prospective new hire with the mindset of their long-term success within the organization, considering their ability to adapt and thrive in evolving roles. Acknowledge the role of the "plus-two hire" philosophy in sustaining rapid growth, especially during periods of expansion.
By prioritizing onboarding excellence, fostering empowerment and trust, embracing a care-first culture, and adopting a plus-two hire philosophy, you're not just building a team; you're constructing a path toward the sustained success of your organization.
Want to learn more about David's perspective on building high-performing and engaged teams in multifamily? Listen to the full episode on your favorite platform, and if you like what you hear, be sure to leave a review and hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
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